Air or steam coupling for



(No Model.)

D. STOCKING.

AIR 0B STEAM COUPLING FOR RAILWAY mas.

Patented Dec. 25, .1888

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STATES PATENT rricn.

MILTON D. STOCKING, OF LINDENIVOOD, ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,089, dated December 25, 1888.

Application filed May 14, 1888- Sarial No. 273,798. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON D. STOCKING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lindenwood, in the county of Ogle, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air or Steam Couplings for with freight-cars to enable the engineer to control his train at all times.

This invention consists in a two-part coupling, each part carrying a valve which is antomatically opened as the two parts come together, and are automatically closed as the two parts separate; also means for adj usting the coupling either horizontally or vertically.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an isometrical representation of a portion of a truck of a railway-car with my improve ments in place thereon. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the brace-rods and their adjustalole connections. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the coupling-heads in their horizontal positions about to be coupled. Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the heads coupled. Fig. 5 is a vertical central section on dotted line a, Fig. at, showing the connections of the steampipes.

The truck represented in the drawings is of the usual construction, but may be any of the known varieties, of which I will only mention the bolster portion 1, supported upon the wheels. Brackets 2 are fixed to the lower edge of the bolster 1. In these brackets is supported a two-armed brace, 3, composed of the arms -:l-. and The ends of these bracearms are in round bar form and project through the brackets 2 nut, o. Between the nut ll and the ljn-aeket 2 is wound a coil-spring, 7, the action of which tends to hold the brace against the bearing for the purpose of horizontal adjustment. ashers 8 are placed on the rounded end portion of the brace arms forward of their bracketsupport, for a purpose to appear hereinat'ter.

A rod, 9, is connected at one end to thebolfrom the side of each head.

, suitable material. and receive a screwster 1 by means of a bracket, 10, secured thereto. I The other end of this rod 9 is screwthreaded, and'is bent downward and passes through the brace 3 near its free end. Adjusting-nuts 11 are placed one on each side of the brace 3, by means of which the free end of the brace 3 may be vertically adjusted.

The coupling-heads to operate the valves consist, essentially, of the lever portions 12, pivotally connected to the free end of the brace 3, and are held from horizontal movement by being connected between the arms 13 and 14 by a bolt passing through the arms and a slot, 15, in the lever portion 12. The said lever portion 12 is provided with a pin, 12, which serves to support the head in a horizontal position. The free ends of the lever portions are produced in clutch form to engage with each other. Each of these heads is provided with like jaws, 16, projecting These jawsserve to guide the heads into engagement with each other, and the pins 17 are the center upon which they turn, and when in the position shown in Fig. a they will be locked together, and can only be released when they attain a horizontal position, or nearly so, shown in Fig. 3.

Each of the heads is provided with a tubular opening, 13, and a hose or other suitable connection, 19, connects the coupling-head with the air or steam supply employed to operate the brakes. These openings 18 communicate with an opening, 20, extending lengthwise of the coupling-head, which communicates with a transverse opening, 21, in the free or meeting ends of the coupling-heads, forming a continuous tubular openin The inn er faces of these heads at the point where the openings communicate with each other are provided with a packing, 2;, of rubber or other As the heads are brought together, this packing will form a steam or air-tight connection and permit the passage of the steam or air from the hose of one head through the openings out through the hose of the other head.

An oscillatory valve, 23, is placed in the opening 20, between its end openings, and is connected on the outside with a segmental operating device. (Shown at 2-1, Figs. 3 and a.) The valves are operated by means of a arrangement when the heads are about to engage each other the valve will stand closed, as shown in Fig. 3, thereby giving the engineer complete control of the cars attached to the locomotive. \Vhen the cars come together by reason of the inclined portions 20, the tendency will be to throw the heads upward, and in this movement the heads will interlock and the projections 25 will engage the valve and turn and open it, as shown in Fig. 4-. A shield, .7, is so placed on each head as to protect the valve and its operating device.

A spring, 28, is secured at one end to a stud, 29, projecting from the brace 3, coiled around the pivot-bolt connecting the head and brace, its end passing through an eye, 30, and resting on the shield. The action of the spring is to hold the head in a horizontal position, but will yield and permit the heads to couple.

In adjusting my coupling for use on different-height cars, the vertical adjustment is attained by means of adjusting-nuts 11 on the bent end portion of brace-rod 0. The hori zontal adjustment is accomplished by placing washers 8 before either hearing as maybe required to bring the heads in proper position to interlock. heads with the brace support permits the heads to retain their position in the opposite endwise movement of the cars permitted by the spring action of the car-coupling.

This coupling is supported on the truck below the car-coupling and will not interfere with the working'of the coupler.

Cars provided with this coupling device will, when brought together automatically, couple the steam or air pipes leading from the steam orair supply, and when standing alone the couplin g-heads, by the action of the sprin g, will be held in their horizontal position, and the valves on both ends will be closed, and will remain so until. brought in contact with a like coupling on anothercar, and as soon as a car leaves the main train the valves of both heads will be automatically closed, thereby giving the engineer complete control.

'of his train.

I claim as my invention 1. In a steam or air brake coupling, the combination, with two coupling-heads pivoted to a support to swing in a vertical direction an d provided with steam air-ducts and a projection carried by each head, of valves provided with arms to engage said projections, whereby the valves are opened and closed by the swing- The slotted connection of the j I in clutch form and provided with laterallying of the heads upon engaging and disengaging one another, substantially as set forth.

2. In an air or steam brake coupling, the combination of a coupling-head, an intermediate support connecting the head with the truck of a car, the head having a swinging connection with. the intermediate support, and a spring having its opposite ends connected with the head. and intermediate support, substantially as set forth.

In an air or steam brake coupling, the combination, with the coupling-head pivoted to swing in a vertical direction and provided with a steam-duct and a projection, of a valve provided with arms to ei'igage the said projection, whereby the valves are opened and closed by the swinging of the head upon engaging with an adjacent head, substantially as set forth.

a. In an air or steam brake coupling, the con'ibination, with the coupling, of a support having a longitudinal yielding engagement with the truck of the car, and pivoted to said coupling-head, and a brace connected to said truck and having a vertical adjustable connection with said. support, substantially as set forth.

5. In an air or steam brake coupling, the combination, with the valved coupling-heads and the supports to which they are pivoted to swing vertically, each of said heads produced projecting pins, as 17, and springs secured to said supports and to the said coupling-heads, the arrangement being such that when the coupling-heads are brought together the pins will engage the clutch portions and throw the heads in a vertical position, and when the heads are disengaged the springs will return the heads to a horizontal position, substantially as set forth.

(5. In an air or steam brake coupling, the combination, with the coupling-heads, of adj 'ustable supports havin a pivoted connection with said heads, substantially as set forth.

'7. In an air and steam brake coupling, the combination, with the support provided with branches, as f and 5, each having a longitudinally-yieldin g connection with the truck, of the coupling-head pivoted to the free end of said support and a brace pivotally connected to the truck of the car with one end and with the other end vertically adj ustably connected to the said support.

MILTON T). STOCKING.

\Vi tn csses:

A. O. BEHEL, E. BEHEL. 

